Modified 80 Series Landcruiser, Episode #5.

We
first meet Deb on one of our Video trips and from the get go we knew her 80
would be walking up everything.

The 80 series Landcruiser is considered one of
the best 4WD’s ever made when it comes to tough tracks, thanks to the all-round
coil suspension they just seem to handle everything with a lot more ease than
other vehicles keeping the wheel in contact with the ground longer than expected.

Along
the trip on some tough tracks Deb’s 80 was one of the only vehicles that didn’t
get stuck and she knows her stuff when it comes to picking lines and pushing
the pedal at the right time.

Click any image to enlarge or open photo album.

The 80 series Landcruiser's are getting on and it’s hard to
find one without low km/mileage but they are a good bit of quality vehicle. For
some ideas when it comes to modifying check out what Deb has done to her beast
aka ALF!

Vehicles factory stats (NOTE* modded details below):

Make model: 1995 Toyota 80 series Landcruiser GXL

Engine: 1HZ

Drive train: 5 speed manual, High
& low range gearing on solid axles

Suspension: Coil suspension front and rear

Deb’s mod list for her 80 series Landcruiser

Engine: Safari turbo and dual battery system. I
have an ARK pack which I will be getting a third battery for and will be
utilising that a lot more. K&N air filter and 3”straight through exhaust.

Electric upgrades: Electric brake gadget for
towing trailers etc.

Lights: 42”lightbar,
NARVA H4 globes (Did have the HIDs and LEDs, but they kept blowing, so went
back to basics and they are brilliant). And the smaller LED lights on the
bulbar, which are being replaced with another Light bar shortly and rear
driving/reverse/camp lights connected to the roof-rack;

Comms & GPS: GME 80 channel uhf, and an unknown HF
needing a new antenna, and a Barrett 250 and Antenna is on its way. Plus I have
a VMS which I am still learning how to use.

Suspension and tyres: 3”flexi coils and 35”KUMHO KL71s
Mud tyres.

Interior mods:

Overhead roof console with the CBs in them as well as a
reading light.

Front old sheepskin covers that work great not to get the
seats dirty.

Kenwood double din CD player, which will be able to take my
front and rear cameras that are ready to be installed. Bluetooth set up through
the double din, and my rear view mirror also has a Bluetooth set up, which you
can take the ear piece out and talk privately if you needed to (I DON’T touch
my mobile whilst driving)

2 x digital read outs
for the batteries so I know what voltage they are at, isolation switches so I
can isolate my batteries Switches to turn on and off my front and rear driving
lights and rear lights so I can see in the back of the wagon;

Rear ARB steel bar
that had a spare wheel carrier and a jerry can holder, so Dad and I took the
jerry can holder off and made another spare wheel carrier, we also had to cut
off the original one and move it over to make them both fit evenly on the rear.

Side steps are rock
sliders with the chequer plate pop riveted on, but I plan on taking the chequer
plate off as the pop rivets keep coming loose and the plate rattles. VERY annoying:
/.

ARB front and rear
air lockers with the on board compressor under the bonnet.

Roof rack bought from
EBay with free delivery.

He also has the part time kit installed.

Side awning and a rear awning, and another side awning is
currently on its way.

160L long-range tank that fits in where the current sub tank
sits.

Safari Snorkel.

120W Solar panels but
they do not stay on the car.

Side awning tent for camping.

Webber BBQ for longer camping trips, and to come is a water
storage system, either the bladder or the steel tank….am still undecided which
way to go yet; and under bonnet shower is yet to be installed, but is ready to
go.

Modified Video Of Deb's 80 series Landcruiser.

Deb’s top 3 trips in the 80 series Landcruiser:

Jurien Bay was the best trip so far. Next big trip is in
December when I go to Ayers Rock, further North, then back down to the
Southwest J

Kirup was another great trip.

Harvey is my favourite playground.

Unstoppable moment in the 80 Series Landcruiser:

Every time I take Alf out, he never lets me down. Every time I am out in the bush is an unstoppable moment, he does what I tell him to do, and how I tell him to do it, and he has not let me down yet.

Even with broken and shattered CVs, he still keeps going without any struggles, even thou I know I shouldn’t be; he still amazes me and makes me proud every single time.

Most scary situation in the 80 Series Landcruiser:

In my last 80, I was teaching my daughter how to drive (She
is on her “L”s); she had done approx. 22 hours already by that stage.

She does not like 4WDriving, so she used to drive there and
back and I used to do all the 4WDriving.

Mother’s Day morning 2014, we were on our way to do Logue
Rd. I told her to turn up ahead and noticed he changing from 5th down to 4th
and I knew we were gone. Next thing I remember is watching my coffee dribble
onto her hair and wondering why the hell my dog was on the road outside.

Front windscreen gone, Teesh looked like she had her legs
stuck under the dash. My friend Martin came straight through the car window and
asked if we were ok, he unbuckled me so I could lower myself down to Teesh
without falling on top of her, unbuckled her and pulled her out of the car.

We’d rolled over. She mistook the brake for the accelerator
and she floored it around the right hand corner in 4th gear flooring it at
70km/h+.

Martin had his in car camera going and caught the whole thing on
video.

After sorting
ourselves out and righting the 4WD up again, we got back to my place, plugged
the card in, and watched it happen.

She went around the corner up on 2 wheels
(The whole way around mind you, would make any stunt driver proud), then it
landed on my side, onto the roof and landed on the driver’s side.

Turns out that was the best outcome, otherwise if she had
corrected herself, we would have hit the curb head on and flown into the air
and landed head first into the thick concrete culvert and could possibly be dead.
Or worse.

I had cuts and bruises all up the left side of me, but luckily
nothing worse. We both walked away relatively injury free.

Deb's old rig.

Deb's modification tips:

Lift, tyres, rock slider, air compressor and fully recommend
the part time kit. BEST thing I have done to my 80.

BUT whatever it is that you do, take your time
and do it right, and you do not need top of the range or name brands for everything,
the cheaper stuff off eBay is just as good and will do the job just as well for
under half the cost.

Deb’s Top 3 tips with building an 80 Series Landcruiser:

1. Front bar with winch, make
sure it is all connected properly and it works as it should.

2. Rear bar for
better and easier exits, make sure it’s built properly.

3. Put the part
time kit in if you can, BEST thing I’ve done to mine yet.

Links:

Rigs n Ruts 4x4 club was thought of by my very good friend
Bonnie, after a bit of crap that happened from other people we both trusted, we
decided we’d had enough of being bullied and targeted, so Rigs n Ruts was
created.

Bonnie is no longer with us, but her gorgeous other half Jordan and
myself have made sure it keeps going and grows from strength to strength and moves
forward in a positive light, with help from Admins Ian and Scott.

We have
outings just about every weekend with some exciting stuff planned for the
future, and we know that Bon Bon will be with us every step of the way J